Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI413-4’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCALI413-4’, characterized by its compact, mounding and outwardly spreading growth habit; numerous yellow-colored flowers with red-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCALI413-4’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Calibrachoa Plant Named ‘USCALI413-8’ U.S. Plant patentapplication No. 11,978,131.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘USCALI413-4’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hikone, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new Calibrachoa cultivars with uniform plant habitand attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on Apr. 17, 2004 in Hikone, Shiga, Japan of a proprietaryseedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ04-23,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedlingselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ04-22, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Gensingen, Germany on May 24, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Gensingen, Germany since May 25, 2005 hasshown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar USCALI413-4 has not been observed under all possibleenvironment conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variationsin environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘USCALI413-4’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘USCALI413-4’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and outwardly spreading growth habit.    -   2. Numerous yellow-colored flowers with red-colored centers.    -   3. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as upright as plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have apricot orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants ofthe male parent selection primarily in plant form as plants of the newCalibrachoa are more upright than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivarUSCALI413-8. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of thecultivar USCALI413-8 primarily in flower color as plants of the cultivarUSCALI413-8 have orange-colored flowers with red-colored centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivarSunbelki, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,558. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the newCalibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Sunbelki in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of        the cultivar Sunbelki.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbelki        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Sunbelki did        not have red-colored centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of thecultivar KLEC03083, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,173. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of thenew Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar KLEC03083 in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of        the cultivar KLEC03083.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar KLEC03083        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar KLEC03083 did        not have red-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCALI413-4’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of typicalflowers of ‘USCALI413-4’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercialpractice during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery with daytemperatures ranging from 7° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures rangingfrom 7° C. to 21° C. Rooted young plants were grown for about eightweeks in 15-cm containers. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar USCALI413-4.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ04-23, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ04-22, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and outwardly            spreading plant habit. Freely branching habit with about            seven primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary            lateral branches; pinching enhances branching. Moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 21.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 47 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 33 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—146B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after            flowering, opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 4.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.            Fully expanded foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 146B;            venation, 146C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arranged singly arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering            habit with usually about 51 open flowers and flower buds per            lateral branch. Flowers persistent. Flowers face upright to            mostly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            initiate and develop flowers about four to six weeks after            planting. Plants flower continuously from April to October            in Southern California.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm to 2.8 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 5 mm by 7 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.2 cm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: 3C.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly obovate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire.            Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth, velvety. Petal            texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Throat texture: Smooth,            velvety. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when            opening, upper surface: 7C. Petal, when opening, lower            surface: 8C. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: 7B; towards            the apex, color becoming closer to 3D with development;            towards the throat, 46A; venation, 182A. Petal, fully            opened, lower surface: 9D; venation, 183B. Throat: 12C;            venation, 183A. Tube: 10C; venation, 183B to 183C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About            1.1 cm. Sepal width: About 2.5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate.            Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 35° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About            five per flower. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About            1 mm. Anther color: 12C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: 12C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 1.2 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color:            145B. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: 145A. Ovary color:            145A. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been    observed to be resistant to Thielaviopsis. Plants of the new    Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Calibrachoa.

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI413-4’ asillustrated and described.